Cigar holder and divot repair tool

ABSTRACT

A golf tool including a body defining a divot repair tool with one or more fingers. A centrally disposed opening in the body is configured to receive a cigar. A solid perimeter body wall surrounds the opening and an exposed top edge of the body defines a rest support for a golf club handle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a multi-purpose golf tool which, in one embodiment, holds the lipped end of a cigar off the ground, elevates the hand grip of a golf club above the grass, and allows the user to repair ball divots.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Proper golf etiquette mandates that a golfer repairs a ball mark on the green resulting from the impact of the ball upon landing. A number of conventional tools and gadgets have been proposed to aid the golfer in repairing divots in addition to providing other functions, such as cutting a cigar. Golfers often enjoy smoking a cigar while on the golf course. However, while playing, golfers commonly prefer to put down the cigar and concentrate on the swing. To avoid putting the cigar on the ground, some conventional tools attempt to support the cigar above the ground area. Generally, these conventional tools elevate the cigar to avoid contact of the cigar with grass, dirt and pesticides that may be present in the grass. Similarly, some conventional tools provide the golfer with a support for a golf club in order to keep the handgrip off the wet grass when the club is temporarily not in use.

One such multi-purpose golf tool disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,731 includes a divot repair tool, a club grip support and a cigarette holder. The triangular hole in the golf tool is offset from the centerline and sized to receive a golf tee or, alternatively, a cigarette, but not a cigar.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,019 discloses an all-in-one golf tool including a divot repair tool, a circular hole for checking the roundness of a golf ball, a slot for holding a cigarette, and a handgrip rest for golf clubs. The circular hole, the slot and the handgrip rest are all offset from the centerline of the golf tool. The slot is sized for holding a cigarette but not a cigar.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,114 discloses a golf accessory including a divot repair tool, cigar cutter, and cigar support. A circular hole in the body of the device receives the butt end of a cigar, which is cut by a blade that slides within the opening of the hole. A concave cradle on one side of the device supports the cigar when the device is positioned horizontally on the ground. The device lacks a support for the handgrip of a golf club.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,120 discloses a multi-function golfer's tool having a cigar cutter, a cigar support stand, a tool for repairing divots, and a golf club stand. A central opening in the support base of the tool is formed to accept the finger of the user when cutting a cigar. Another opening in the tool allows the tip of the cigar to be cut by a movable blade. The device is difficult to operate and has a complicated assembly of moving parts that require maintenance by the user. The device contains sharp edges and prongs that can easily damage the skin, clothes and other objects in the golfer's pocket. Moreover, the device fails to securely hold the cigar in place because it provides only a support on which to rest the cigar but the cigar easily falls off. The device cannot support a cigar and a golf club at the same time.

Other conventional golf tools suffer from complicated designs and lack of a tool specifically sized for securely holding a cigar.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a golf tool including a cigar holder, divot repair tool and golf club handgrip rest.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a golf tool which securely holds the end of a cigar off the ground.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a golf tool which can simultaneously hold a cigar and support a golf club handle.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a golf tool which is compact and simple in design.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a golf tool which easily fits into the user's pocket.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a golf tool which is lightweight and durable.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a golf tool which is easy to locate on the turf.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a golf tool which is easy to use.

The invention results from the realization that a simpler golf tool design which is easier to use includes a body with a divot repair tool, a centrally disposed opening configured to receive a cigar, and an exposed top edge defining a rest support for a golf club handle.

The subject invention features, in one embodiment, a golf tool comprising a body including a divot repair tool with one or more fingers, a centrally disposed opening in the body configured to receive a cigar, a solid perimeter body wall surrounding the opening, and an exposed top edge of the body defining a rest support for a golf club handle.

In one example, the exposed top edge includes grooves. Also, each of the fingers of the divot repair tool may include a reinforcement rib providing stability when the golf tool is inserted in to the turf. Typically, the fingers are beveled allowing the user to easily insert the golf tool into the turf. The body may have an area in the range of 1.8 to 2.4 square inches. The opening typically has an area in the range of 1.3 to 1.9 square inches and preferably has a circular shape. The body and the fingers may be made from a material selected from the group of plastic, wood, or metal. Typically, the body includes an area for receiving printed text. In one example, the golf tool of the subject invention is unitary in construction. The body may have a longitudinal axis and the opening may be a circle with its center on the longitudinal axis. In one example, there are two spaced fingers.

One golf tool of the subject invention includes a body including a divot repair tool with two spaced, beveled fingers, each including a reinforcement rib providing stability when the golf tool is inserted into the turf, a centrally disposed, circular opening in the body configured to receive a cigar, a solid perimeter body wall surrounding the opening, and an exposed top edge of the body including grooves and defining a rest support for a golf club handle.

The subject invention, however, in other embodiments, need not achieve all these objectives and the claims hereof should not be limited to structures or methods capable of achieving these objectives.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front schematic view of a prior art multi-purpose golf tool;

FIG. 2 is a front view of another prior art all-in-one golf tool;

FIG. 3 is a top view of another prior art multi-function golf tool;

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of another prior art multi-function golfer's tool used as a cigar cutter;

FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of the multi-function golfer's tool of FIG. 4 used as a cigar support stand;

FIG. 6 is a front schematic front view of an example of a golf tool in accordance with the subject invention;

FIG. 7 is another schematic front view of the tool shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a left side schematic view of the golf tool of FIGS. 6-7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aside from the preferred embodiment or embodiments disclosed below, this invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.

There is shown in FIG. 1 a prior art multi-purpose golf tool 10 including divot repair tool 12, club grip support 14, and triangular hole 16. Hole 16 is offset from the centerline of golf tool 10 and sized to receive a golf tee or, alternatively, a cigarette, but not a cigar.

Another prior art all-in-one golf tool 20, FIG. 2, includes divot repair tool 22, offset circular hole 24 for checking the roundness of a golf ball, slot 26 sized for holding a cigarette but not a cigar, and golf club handgrip rest 28.

Another multi-function golf tool 30, FIG. 3, includes divot repair tool 34, cigar cutter 36, and cigar support cradle 38. Circular hole 40 receives the butt end of a cigar which is cut by a blade that slides within the opening of hole 40. Concave cradle 38 supports a cigar when the golf tool 30 is positioned horizontally on the ground.

Another prior art golf tool 50, FIG. 4, includes support base 54 and cigar support 70. Support base 54 includes divot repair tool 80 having prongs 82 a and 82 b. Opening 52 in support base 54 is formed to accept the finger of the user when cutting cigar 56. A second opening 58 in body 60 allows the tip of cigar 56 to be cut by a movable blade 62. Hinge mechanism 72 connects support base 54 to body 60. When golf tool 50 is used as a cigar support stand, as shown in FIG. 5, cigar 56 rests on support 70 while support base 54 is anchored in the ground via prongs 82 a and 82 b.

The subject invention features, in one embodiment, golf tool 100, FIG. 6, having body 102 including divot repair tool 104 with one or more parallel identical fingers 106 a and 106 b, centrally disposed opening 108 in body 102 configured to receive a cigar, solid perimeter body wall 110 surrounding opening 108, and exposed top edge 112 defining rest support 114 for a golf club handle. Body 102 typically has an area in the range of 1.8 to 2.4 square inches. Opening 108 may have an area in the range of 1.3 to 1.9 square inches and preferably has a circular shape as shown. Body 102 and spaced fingers 106 a and 106 b may be made from a material selected from the group of plastic, wood, nylon, metal, or other suitable materials. Golf tool 100 is typically unitary in construction and body 102 may include an area 130 for receiving printed text.

Exposed top edge 112, FIGS. 6-7, may include grooves 116 to prevent the club handle from sliding off the support 114. Body 102, FIG. 7, in this example, has a longitudinal axis L and circular opening 108 has its center C on the longitudinal axis as shown.

Fingers 106 a and 106 b, FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, include reinforcement ribs 118 a and 118 b providing stability when the golf tool is inserted in to the turf. Fingers 106 a and 106 b are also beveled as shown at 120 in FIG. 8 allowing the user to easily insert golf tool 100 into the turf.

The golf tool of the subject invention may be injection molded using a lightweight and durable nylon. The golf tool may be painted in a bright color so that the golfer can easily locate it on the green grass. Typically, the subject invention is carried in the golfer's pocket. To repair a divot, the golfer removes the golf tool from the pocket and inserts the fingers of the divot repair tool into the turf to manipulate the grass. To put down a cigar or a golf club, the golfer inserts the divot repair tool into the turf to anchor the golf tool in the ground. The golfer then places the cigar in the cigar holder and rests the golf club handle on the rest support.

In any embodiment, the golf tool of the subject invention securely holds the end of a cigar off the ground, can simultaneously hold a cigar and support a golf club handle, and is simple in design and easy to use. It easily fits into the user's pocket, is lightweight and durable, and easy to locate on the turf.

Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention. The words “including”, “comprising”, “having”, and “with” as used herein are to be interpreted broadly and comprehensively and are not limited to any physical interconnection. Moreover, any embodiments disclosed in the subject application are not to be taken as the only possible embodiments.

Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims: 

1. A golf tool comprising: a body including a divot repair tool with one or more fingers; a centrally disposed opening in the body configured to receive a cigar; a solid perimeter body wall surrounding the opening; and an exposed top edge of the body defining a rest support for a golf club handle.
 2. The golf tool of claim 1 in which said exposed top edge includes grooves.
 3. The golf tool of claim 1 in which each of said fingers includes a reinforcement rib providing stability when the golf tool is inserted into the turf.
 4. The golf tool of claim 1 in which each of said fingers is beveled allowing the user to easily insert the golf tool into the turf.
 5. The golf tool of claim 1 in which said body has an area in the range of 1.8 to 2.4 square inches.
 6. The golf tool of claim 1 in which said opening has an area in the range of 1.3 to 1.9 square inches.
 7. The golf tool of claim 1 in which said opening has a circular shape.
 8. The golf tool of claim 1 in which said body and said fingers are made from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, wood, or metal.
 9. The golf tool of claim 1 in which said body includes an area for receiving printed text.
 10. The golf tool of claim 1 in which said golf tool is unitary in construction.
 11. The golf tool of claim 1 in which the body has a longitudinal axis and the opening is a circle with its center on the longitudinal axis.
 12. The golf tool of claim 1 in which there are two spaced fingers.
 13. A golf tool comprising: a body including a divot repair tool with two spaced, beveled fingers, each including a reinforcement rib providing stability when the golf tool is inserted into the turf; a centrally disposed, circular opening in the body configured to receive a cigar; a solid perimeter body wall surrounding the opening; and an exposed top edge of the body including grooves and defining a rest support for a golf club handle. 